A Light-Emitting Diode (LED) in essence is a P-N junction solid-state semiconductor diode that emits light when a current is applied

though the

device.
LEDs are highly monochromatic, only emitting a single pure color in a narrow frequency range. The color emitted from an LED is measured in nanometers (nm). Most LEDs are produced using gallium-based crystals that differ in one

or more additional materials such as phosphorous to produce distinct

colors.

 Different LED chip technologies enable manufacturers to produce LEDs

that emit light in a specific region of the visible light spectrum and replicate different intensity levels. Thus, one would vary the material used in the production of LEDs in order to obtain the desired results.

The essential portion of the Light Emitting Diode is the semiconductor

chip. Semiconductors can be either intrinsic or extrinsic.

PRINCIPLE
LED is a particular diode which generates photons

(light) when a stream of electrons passes through it.

 It can generally be specified as a specific wavelength in the

electromagnetic spectrum. The emitted color selection is somewhat limited. The most commonly available colors are red, green, amber, yellow, blue and white.

APLLICATIONS
AlGaAs (Aluminum-Gallium-Arsenide), a semiconductor that typically

generates the red spectrum, often used in signs, displays and electronic equipment.
InGaAlP(Indium-Gallium-Aluminum-Phosphide)

produces the yellow-

green wavelength to red are often used in signs, auto interior as well as exterior, traffic signals and cellphones.
InGaN (Indium-Gallium-Nitride) typically generates Blue, Green and white

spectrums and are used most often in full color signs, cell-phones, auto interior, traffic signals.
LEDs also form the foundation for

applications in optical-fiber

communication and

diode lasers.

 In the electronic industry, we have LEDs for lighting of almost everything.

The ergonomic flat-panel computer screens otherwise known as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are also in essence miniature LED clusters. The introduction of LCDs marks another milestone in development in the hi-tech

industry. Displays now can be made that use less power as well as emit
much less radiation in comparison with the traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) display.
The nitride-based LEDs have opened new opportunities for manufacturers

of lighting products, such as traffic signal manufacturers and outdoor

signboard manufacturers.
LEDs too use up to 90% less energy in comparison with conventional bulbs

and

lamps today.

Furthermore, LEDs are environmental friendly because they contain no

mercury and since they last longer (about 100,000 continuous hours of life); there will be less disposal waste in the environment).